Appeals court gives more legal protections for asylum-seekers

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in California on Thursday ruled that migrants who crossed the border without authorization and failed to qualify for asylum status have the right to appeal the rejection by immigration authorities.

Why it matters: This decision — which is likely to reach the Supreme Court — provides more legal protections for asylum seekers and will allow them stay longer in the country while the appeal process plays out. It’s also yet another setback for the Trump administration amid efforts to expedite deportations of unauthorized migrants. Asylum seekers in the states where the court has jurisdiction — Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington — can immediately request an appeal from a federal judge.